Artist redesigns NFL helmets ... I Like these...
Graphic designer Dee Yung, a sports fan based in Oklahoma, has created eye-catching, unofficial concept designs for all 32 NFL helmet logos. Which of these are better than the versions teams use now, and which ones are worse? Read on for our verdict.
Graphic artist Dee Young’s new concept designs for all 32 NFL team helmets are eye-catching, but are they an improvement? Here’s our verdict on each design.
[h=4]Bears[/h]
Worse. Dazzling use of the mascot logo is offset by the fact that the ear-hole makes the Bear look either scared or appalled.
[h=4]Bengals[/h]
Better. A tougher look than the pajama-inspired tiger stripe look Cincy currently deploys.
[h=4]Bills[/h]
Worse. We haven’t tired of the classic, predominately white Bills helmets, though we admire the lack of dated, wide stripes down the middle.
[h=4]Broncos[/h]
Better. Young’s designs remind us how overly subtle most NFL logos are; this concept makes
Denver’s badass Bronco the centerpiece rather than the parsley on the side of the plate.
[h=4]Browns[/h]
Worse. The Browns are (finally) set to unveil a new logo next week. There’s nowhere to go but up, and hopefully it’ll out-do this take.
[h=4]Buccaneers[/h]
Worse. This turns the red flag into a black one. Do you want a lawsuit from Raiders owner Mark Davis? Because this is how you get a lawsuit from Raiders owner Mark Davis.
[h=4]Chargers[/h]
Worse. A nice effort and perhaps inspiration for a special occasion, but as an every-Sunday helmet? No way. You can’t improve on the best helmet design in NFL history.
[h=4]Chiefs[/h]
Worse. The Chiefs’ gold looks disturbingly yellow. And with the arrowhead logo, originally sketched by founding owner Lamar Hunt himself, less is more.
[h=4]Colts[/h]
Worse. It’s a classy design, and maybe
SMU should give it a look. But it’s just not the Colts.
[h=4]Cowboys[/h]
Better. We love it, even if we admit some may compare this to the many overdone helmet designs foisted on college football fans in recent years.
[h=4]Dolphins[/h]
Worse. The Fins need a redesign, but sunlight-dappled waves shouldn’t appear on an NFL warrior’s armor.
[h=4]Eagles[/h]
Worse. The jumbo Eagle gnawing with frustration on the facemask may be apropos, but it’s not an inspiring look.
[h=4]Falcons[/h]
Worse. Or maybe better. Hard to work up much enthusiasm either way on this one.
[h=4]Giants[/h]
Worse. The enhanced logo looks great but the flag theme is misguided.
[h=4]Jets[/h]
Worse. The gradient evokes the 1990s, which may not be such a bad thing for the Jets.
[h=4]Lions[/h]
Worse. We’ll give this helmet design a B+, well short of the Lions’ A+ current design.
[h=4]49ers[/h]
Worse. We’re not a fan of anything here, except for the awesome black facemask.
[h=4]Packers[/h]
Worse. We hope to live long enough to see the tradition-bound Packers try something new, mostly because we want to live to 185.
[h=4]Carolina[/h]
Worse. Bad marketing move. So much Carolina blue might alienate the region’s
Duke alums.
[h=4]Patriots[/h]
Worse. Bill Belichick only wants a logo change if it gives the Pats an on-field advantage.
[h=4]Raiders[/h]
Better. An upgrade that honors the Raiders’ steeped tradition. Did we mention that black facemasks rule?
[h=4]Rams[/h]
Worse. Much, much worse.
[h=4]Ravens[/h]
Better. Hard to go wrong with the purple-and-black color scheme.
[h=4]Redskins[/h]
Better. Washington’s team could score some P.R. points by adopting that Navajo pattern.
[h=4]Saints[/h]
Worse. Leave the fleur-de-lis alone.
[h=4]Seahawks[/h]
Worse. Not even the neighboring
Oregon Ducks would do something this garish.
[h=4]Steelers[/h]
Worse. The Steelers iconic logo doesn’t give designers much to work with, in Young’s defense.
[h=4]Texans[/h]
Better. Texas-sized homage to the USFL.
[h=4]Titans[/h]
Worse. Not much innovation or experimentation here.
[h=4]Vikings[/h]
Worse. The league’s horn-based helmets (Vikings and Rams) should remain untouched.
[h=4]Cardinals[/h]
Better. Oddly off-center, but seems like a natural extension of the Cardinals’ current designs.
[h=4]Jaguars[/h]
Worse. We don’t think Jacksonville fans are eager to embrace a Jaguar vanishing in a toxic fog.
